Audio problem when connecting external hard drive.

[Humbug]

If i play an mp3 and turn up the volume to full and put the speaker to my hear i can just make out the music but there is also a terrible humming sound.
I have found the culprit it is my new external hard drive,as soon as i unplug it my speakers work properly again!
Any ideas on what could be causing this?

[Xylob the Destroyer]

you haven't provided enough information regarding your PC's set-up....
is your sound card internal? external? on-board?
how is your external HD connected?
what OS?

just a blind guess, but it sounds like some kind of IRQ conflict could be the issue?

[Humbug]

Sorry mate......Here goes...
XP SP2
Internal creative soundblaster live sound card.
Ext hard drive connected via usb port..

[Xylob the Destroyer]

is your USB port an add-in card or on-board?

either way, this is a fairly odd "conflict"....
have you updated all of your drivers?
does your audio take a shit when you use other USB devices?

[redwudz]

If not a IRQ problem, maybe a overloaded power supply? Unplug a few devices, drives or cards and try again. (Do the unplugging when the power is off and disconnected. )

[Humbug]

I have 2 usb's on front and 4 on the back(not to sure whether USB port an add-in card or on-board)will have to have a look inside...
I think it is a bit of both at a guess.
The audio only goes once i plug in the ext hard drive but is ok at all other times..

[Xylob the Destroyer]

set it on fire and do the wacky-tiki dance of deadly death around it while wearing nothing but tighty-whiteys on your head and some ceremonial body paint.

redwudz makes a very good point about the power issue -- I didn't even think of this because I have an ungodly monsterous power supply, so it's never really an issue for me. if this is on of those pre-built package deal PC's (dell, GateWay, etc...) you may have a relatively underpowered PS.